Felines & Birds Don't Mix

Published:
June 1, 2006

Tip #5 in a series:

Keep cats inside

Sorry, cat lovers, but while your feline friends are great indoor pets, they are predators of birds and backyard wildlife. Domestic cats hunt whether they are hungry or not because their hunting instinct is independent of their need to eat.

How big of a problem are we talking about here? Scientists estimate that cats harm or kill hundreds of millions of birds every year in the United States. University of Wisconsin researchers estimate that cats kill 40 million birds each year in Wisconsin alone!

All birds that come into a yard with a prowling cat are at risk, but birds whose natural movements include time on or near the ground are most vulnerable – especially those that breed or nest on the ground. Migratory birds also are more at risk, because they are less familiar with cats and may not have learned to avoid them during migration.